Tanzer Score: 89

Other Scores: 89

State: California

Region: Central Coast

District: Santa Cruz Mountains

Type: Still Wine

Color: Red

Varietal: Blends & Meritage

Vintage: 2004

Size: 1.5L

Available: 1

Brand: See more from Bonny Doon Vineyard

Sku: 105219

Price: $61.99

Quantity:   

Wine Spectator Review:
Austere, with lean tannins, tart berry flavors, spicy tobacco and fresh herbal notes. Tight and tannic, but intense and balanced. Syrah, Grenache, Mourvhdre, Carignane, Cinsault and Grenache Blanc. Drink now through 2011. 5,740 cases made.

Parker Review:
The 2004 Le Cigare Volant exhibits elegant notes of sweet kirsch, loamy soil, pepper, and herbs. It is a pleasant, fruity, medium-bodied, bistro-styled red to drink over the next 2-4 years. However, it can't compete with the Bonny Doon's wines from the early to mid-1980s. Bonny Doon's charismatic proprietor, Randall Grahm, has sold some of his larger production assets in order to refocus on the quality of his wines (which were so promising in the mid-1980s, before he turned his winery into an industrial-sized fruit plant). It is too early to tell whether this will result in higher quality wines. The current releases were made while Grahm was turning out mega-quantities of other wines.

Tanzer Review:
(38% grenache, 35% syrah, 12% mourvedre, 8% carignane and 7% cinsaut) Deep red. Smoky aromas of raspberry, cherry, herbs and flowers are complemented by minerality. Midweight red berry and sweet cherry flavors are given spine by gentle acidity and silky tannins. The red fruit takes a darker turn on the finish, which leaves black raspberry and succulent herbs behind. Reminds me of an easygoing Gigondas this is ready to drink.

Other Notes:
This southern Rhtne-style blend has been consistent over the years for offering a dry, balanced and stylish red wine, and the 04 upholds that tradition. Made with Grenache, Mourvhdre, Syrah and other grapes, its an earthy, spicy wine, with nuances of wild berries, grilled veal, olive tapenade, lavender and Provengal herbs.Wine Enthusiast